Panel for driers



' Dec. 31 1929. w. M. SCHWARTZ PANEL FOR DRIERS Filed July 20. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [we-mien WaZier/ZZ Jc'ibwa/rzzz Dec. 31, 1929. w. M. SCHWARTZ 1,741,342

PANEL FOR DRIERS Filed July 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M711 sc zz Mfi Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNrrsD STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER M. SCHWARTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PROCTOR & SCHWARTZ, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA PANEL FOR DRIERS Application filed July 26, 1928. ,Serial No. 294,254.

This invention relates to improvements in panels used as the enclosing walls of drying apparatus, and particularly the walls of driers in which heated air is circulated.

In constructing this type of drier it has been the practice to provide a heavy framework for the support of all the operating elements or machinery of the drier, including bearings for the mounting of operating shafts, rails for the support of conveyers, fan mountings, and to provide a casing around this framework composed of a plurality of panels which form the walls and roof of the casing.

These walls or panels have heretofore been of a comparatively light construction, comprising a pair of metallic sheets spaced apart and filled with an insulating material, nonconductive of heat.

The object of the present invention is to dispense with the above mentioned separate heavy framework of the drier and to construct at least a portion of the number of panels employed in the formation of the walls of the drier casing in a manner to provide the necessary rigidity to enable these panels to support the above mentioned operating elements of the drier, and the roof thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a suitable sealing element between the stationary and removable panels, or between two adjacent stationary panels to prevent the heat from escaping from the inte 'ior of the casing.

The construction of the panels will be'more fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a face vie of what may be termed a stationary panel;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the panel shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 38, Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a sectional view taken on the line 47-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a face view of whatmay be termeda removable panel;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the panel shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 77ofFig.5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88, Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of one of the stationary panels secured to the cap and sill of a drier;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1010, Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 illustrates one method of securing a removable panel to a stationary panel; 1

Fig. 12 illustrates a method of connecting two stationary panels, such as in the roof or side wall construction;

Fig. 13 is a front view of a stationary panel showing a method of attaching outside bearings or other fixtures to the panel;

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 1414:, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1515, Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 illustrates a method of securing a rail or track to the panel; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention.-

The stationary panel A shown in Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive comprises a pair of Z-bars 1, 1 which form the main longitudinal side or edge members of the panel; a pair of transversely extending 'L-bars 2, 2 which form the main end members of the panel; a face plate 3; a rear plate 4; a pair of transversely extending Z-plates 5, 5 which are supplementary to the end bars 2, 2 and are located one at each end of the panel; and a body of insulating material 6 confined between the front plate 3, rear plate 4, side Z-bars 1, and end Z-plates 5.

The movable panel B shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive comprises a pair of L-barS 11, 11, which-form the main longitudinal side mem bers of the panel; a pair of transversely extending end L-bars 12 12, which form the main end members of the panel; a face plate 13; a rear plate 14; a pair of transversely extending supplementary Z-p'lates 15, 15 lo-' cated one at each end of the panel; a pair of supplementary Z-plates 17, 1-7 located one at each side of the panel; and a body of insulating material 16 confined between the end aid sis side Z-plates 15, 15 and 17, 17 respectively and the face and rear plates 13 and 15 respectively.

The elements constituting the panels A and B are assembled and secured together in the manner disclosed in the co-pending application of alter M. Schwartz, Alma J. Harrison and John L. Fagan, filed May 1, 1928, Serial No. 274,309.

The Z-bars 1 of the stationary panels A comprise parallel webs 1 and 1 connected by a web 1 extendin at right angles to the webs l 1 The web 1" is provided with a flange 1 which extends inwardly of the panel and parallel to the web 1.

A sealing element 20, comprising a strip of cork in the present instance, is mounted in the channel formed by the flange 1, web 1 and web 1. The flange 1 is crimped at intervals, as indicated at 2i, Figs. A and 17, to keep the strip 20 in place.

The outer face 22 of the strips 20 at each side of the panel A lie in a plane to located substantially equidistant from and between the face and back plates 3 and A respectively.

The L-bars 2 at each end of the panel comprise a web 2 which lies in a plane coincident with the plane of the webs 1 of the Z-bars 1, and is provided with an inwardly extending flange 2 A sea-ling element 20" is positioned in the channel formed by the flange 2 of the L-bar 2, the Web 5* of the end Z-plate 5 and the web 5 thereof. The inner face 22 of the sealing strip 2O lies in a plane coincident with the outer face 22 of the strips 20 carried by the Z-bars 1, 1.

The side or edge L-bars 11 of the removable panels B comprise a web 11 having a flange 11" projecting inwardly of the panel, and the end L-bars 12 of the removable panels B comprise a web 12 lying in a plane coincident with tl e plane of the webs 11 of the side bars 11, and are each provided with an inwardly extending flange 12.

A sealing element 30 is placed in the channel formed by the flange 11 of the side L-bars 11, the web 17 of the side Z-plate 17 and the web 17 .thereof, with its inner face 32 lying in a plane 93*, substantially equidistant from and between the face and rear plates 13 and 14- respectively.

A sealing element 30 is placed in the channel formed by the flange 12 of the end L bars 12, the web 15 of the end Z-plates 15 and the web 15 thereof, the inner face 32 of the sealing element 30 lying coincident with the plane a of the strips 30,30.

Thus it will be seen that the removable panel B is provided with a channel extending completely around the same, at the face thereof adjacent the face plate 13; while the stationary panel A is provided with a channel at each of its opposite ends at the face thereof adjacent the face plate 3, and is provided with a channel at each longitudinal side edge adjacent the back plate 4 of the panel.

The inner faces 22 of the sealing strips 20 in the end channels of the stationary panels A, and the outer faces 22 of the scaling strips 20 in the longitudinal channels thereof, as above noted, lie in the plane which extends substantially through the center of the panel A between the face and rear plates thereof.

The inner faces 32 and 32 of the sealing strips 30 and 30 in the channels of the removable panels B, as above noted, lie in the plane 00 which extends substantially through the center of the panel. 13, between the face and rear plates thereof.

When the panels are assembled to form a complete drier casing these planes cc and a of the panels A and B respectively, are coincident one with the other, to form a seal to prevent the heated air from escaping from the interior of the casing through the side walls thereof.

In assembling the panels to form the casing a plurality of the stationary panelsA are secured to one flange 26 of a longitudinal cap beam 26, at their respective upper edges by bolts 33, and at their respective lower edges to knee plates 34 by bolts 35, see Figs. 9 and 10. The knee plates 3A are secured to sill beams 27 by rivets 36, in the present instance.

Secured to and spaced apart from the cap beam 26 is a sealing bar 28 against one flange 28 thereof the faces 22 of the scaling strips 20" at the upper ends of the stationary panel A, A, are adapted to bear.

Secured to and spaced apart from the sill beam 27 is a sealing bar 29 against one flange 29 thereof the faces 22 of the sealing strips 2O at the lower ends of the panels A, A are adapted to bear.

As shown in Fig. 10 the outer face 22 of the vertical sealing strip 20 of the stationary panel A is coincident with the planes of the flanges 28 and 29 of the scaling bars 28 and 29 respectively.

The removable panels B are adapted to be secured in place between two spaced stationary panels with the inner faces 32 of their Vertical sealing strips 30 in sealing engagement with the outer faces 22 of the sealing strips 20 of the stationary panels A, and the inner faces 32 of their horizontal sealing elements 30 in sealing engagement with the flanges 28 and 29 of the cap and sill sealing bars 28 and 29 respectively, thus a complete seal between the panels of the walls of the drier casing is obtained.

In order to secure the removable panels B in place, clamps 40 are employed as shown in Fig. 11. The heel 41 of each clamp 40 rests against the web 1 of one of the Z-bars 1 of a stationary panel A and the toe 42 of each clamp rests against the web ll of the Lbar 11 of an adjoining removable panel B.

The clamps are held in place by bolts 43 having heads 43 which are adapted to be placed in square holes 44 formed in the webs 1 of the Z-bars 1 and forced into the body of insulating material 6 of the panel, and thereafter moved into slots 45 which respectively project from the holes 44, in the manner and form of a bayonet joint. The bolts 48 are secured to the Z-bars 1 by lock nuts 46, and

project through the clamps 40, being provided with wing nuts 47 by which the panels may be forced into tight sealing contact with each other. 7

In Fig. 12, I have illustrated the method of forming a seal between adjacent edges of two adjoining stationary panels A, A, providing a joint plate 24 provided with a channel to receive a sealing strip 25 in the manner shown.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate one method of securing a bearing to the fixed panel. In this instance 49 illustrates a portion of the base of a bearing, and on the inner side of the panel are angle bars 50 which are con nected to the base 49 by through bolts 51 which 'pass through sleeves 52. Nuts 53 fasten the bolt to the angle bars 50 and the inner plate of the panel, and the sleeves 52 extend into an opening in the outer plate, so that the base 49 of the bearing rests directly against the sleeves. Nuts 54 firmly clamp the bearing to the sleeves and the angle bars. These angle bars extend from one side of the panel to the other and are attached directly to the heavy Z-beam members 1, 1 of the panel, so that the bearings are supported by these heavy Z- shaped channel members through the medium of the angle bars 50, 50 and their bolts.

Fig. 16 illustrates a method of attaching the longitudinal rails, which are located with in the drier, to the heavy Z-bars of the stationary panels. On these panels are angle bars 55 which are bolted to the Z-beams as shown, and supported by these panels are rails 56 which are angular in cross-section and are secured to the bars 55 or other fastenings.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown one of the panels of which the roof is composed. In the formation of the roof, stationary panels may be used throughout or they may alternate with removable panels in the same general manner as in the wall of the drier.

On the roof construction the sealing strips 4 at the ends of the panels rest on the flange 28 of the cap seal bar 28, the panels proper being secured to the cap beams 26 in any suitable manner.

Thus, it will be seen that I simplify the construction of driers of this type by making the edge members of the stationary panels of heavy material whichwill not only hold the panels from warping, but will support any mechanisms attached to these panel members, dispensing with a great number of parts which were heretofore necessary to support the different structural parts of the drier but which are now supported entirely by the vertical Z-bars 1 of the fixed panels.

I claim: 7

1. A panel constituting in itself a complete hollow-wall section for driers and like apparatus, said panel comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and extending in substantially parallel planes between said Z- bars and respectively connected along their oppositely disposed longitudinal edges to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier.

2. A panel constituting in itself a complete hollow-wall section for driers and like apparatus, said panel comprising a pair of Z- shaped longitudinal edge bars a pair of metal walls spaced apart and extending in substantially parallel planes between said 2- bars and respectively connected along their oppositely disposed longitudinal edges to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier; and heat insulating material located between said metal walls.

3. A panel constituting in itself a complete hollow-wall section for driers and like apparatus, said panel comprising a pair of Z- shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and extending in substantially parallel planes between said 2- bars and respectively connected along their oppositely disposed longitudinal edges to said Z-bars, said Z-barsbeing of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to supportthe machinery and the roof of the drier.

4. A panel constituting in itself a complete hollow-wall section for driers and like apparatus, said panel comprising a pair of Z- shaped longitudinal edge bars apair of metal walls spaced apart and extending in substantially parallel planes between said Z- bars and respectively connected along their oppositely disposed longitudinal edges to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier; and means secured to the said Z bars adapted to support machinery elements of the drier.

5. A panel for driers, and like apparatus, comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z-bars, said 2 bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to supportthe machinery of the drier, each of said Z-bar-s having a channel formed therein for the reception of a sealing element.

6. A panel for driers and like apparatus,

comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier; an end bar extending between and secured to the said Z-bars at each end of the panel; an inturned flange on each end bar; an inturned flange on each Z-bar; said flanges forming channels at the edges of the panel for the reception of sealing elements; and sealing strips in said channels.

7. A paneL for driers and like apparatus, comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier; an end bar extending between said Z- bars at each end of the panel; an inturned flange on each of said Z-bars adjacent one face of the panel; an inturned flange on each end bar adjacent the opposite face of the panel; said inturned flanges forming channels at the edges of thepanel; and sealing elements in said channels the inner faces of said sealing elements lying substantially in a common plane intermediate the opposite faces of the panel.

8. A panel for driers and like apparatus, comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z-bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier, said panel having a channel formed at and extending across each end thereof adjacent one wall of the panel, and a channel formed at and extending along each of the longitudinal edges of the panel adjacent the opposite wall of the panel; and sealing strips in the respective channels extending toward the center of the panel and terminating in a common plane intermediate the opposite walls of the panel. v

9. A wall construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each sta tionary panel comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars;'and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z- bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support themachinery ofthe drier, said panel having a channel formed at and extending across each end thereof adjacent one wall of the panel, and a channel formed at and extending along each of the longitudinal edges of the panel adjacent the opposite wall of the panel; and sealing strips in the respective channels extending toward the center of the panel and terminating in a common plane intermediate the opposite walls of the panel; sealing bars extending respectively along the upper and lower edges of said stationary panels and engaging the sealing strips in the upper and lower channels respectively; the removable panels of said wall being adapted to engage the sealing strips along the longitudinal edges of the panel and the upper and lower sealing bars intermediate said stationary'panels.

10. A wall construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to saidZ- bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier, said panel having a chan nel formed at and extending across each end thereof adjacent one Wall of the panel, and a channel formed at and extending along each of the longitudinal edges of the panel adjacent the opposite wall of the panel; and sealing strips in the respective channels extending toward the center of the panel and terminating in a common plane intermediate the opposite walls of the panel; sealing bars extending respectively along the upper and lower edges of said stationary panels and engaging the sealing strips in the upper and lower channels respectively; the removable panels of said wall being provided with a channel extending completely around the panel adjacent one face thereof; and sealing strips in the channels of said removable panels extending toward the centers of the panels and adapted to engage the sealing strips on the longitudinal edges of the stationary panels and the sealing barsintermediate the stationary panels.

11. A wall construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said 2- bars, said Z-bars being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier, said panel having a channel formed at and extending across each end thereof adjacent one wall of the panel, and a channel formed at and extending along each of the longitudinal edges of the panel adjacent the opposite wall of the panel; and sealing strips in the respective channels extending toward the center of the panel and .terminating in a common plane intermediate the opposite walls of the panel; sealing bars extending respectively along the upper and lower edges of said stationary panels and engaging the sealing strips in the upper and lower channels respectively; the removable panels of said wall being provided with a channel extending completely around the panel adjacent one face thereof; sealing strips in the channels of said removable panels extending toward the centers of the panels and adapted to engage the sealing strips onthe longitudinal edges of the stationary panels and the sealing bars intermediate the stationary panels; and means for securing the removable panels in place.

12. A wall construction for driers' and like apparatus, coii'ipri'sing a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of Z-shaped longitudinal edge bars; and a pair of metal walls spaced apart and connected to said Z-bars, said Z-b'a'rs being of a relatively heavy cross-section and adapted to support the machinery of the drier, said panel having a channel formed at and extending across each end thereof adjacent one wall of the panel, and a channel formed at and extending along each of the longitudinal edges of the panel adjacent the opposite wall of the panel; and sealing strips in the respective channels extendingtoward the center of the panel and terminating in a common plane intermediate the opposite Walls of the panel; sealingbars extending respectively along the upper and lower edges of said stationary panels and en aging the sealing strips in the upper and lower channels respectively; the removable panels of said wall being provided with a channel e'z'rte'nding completely around the panel adjacent one face thereof; sealing strips in the channels of said removable panels extending toward the centers of the panels and adapted to engage the sealing strips,

on the longitudinal edges of the stationary panels and the sealing bars intermediate the stationary panels; and means for securing the removable panels in place comprising bolts adjacent the edges of the stationary panels and clamp plates on said bolt-s having a heel engaging the stationary panel and a toe engaging the removable panel{ 13. A casing construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of relatively heavy longitudinal edge bars of Zshaped cross-sectional form; an end bar extending between and connected to said Z-bars at each end of the panel; a front wall and a rear wall composed of relatively light 'gage metal connected to said Z-bars and said end bars; an inturned flange on each end bar extending toward the center of the panel from the front Wall thereof; an inturned flange on each Z-bar extending toward the center of the'panel from the rear wall of the panel; said flanges forming channels at the respective edges of the panel; sealing strips located in said channels; a sill beam secured to the bottoms of said stationary panels; a cap beam secured to the tops of said stationary panels; sealing bars connected to said cap and sill beams respectively and engaging the sealing strips in the respective ends of said stationary panels; said removable panels having a channel extending completely around the panel and a sealing strip in said channel extending toward the center thereof from one face of the panel, said sealing strip at the sides of said removable panel being adapted to engage the sealing strips on the sides of said stationary panels, and the sealstrip at the top and bottom of said removable panel being adapted to engage the cap and sill sealing bars respectively; intermediate the stationary panels.

14; A casing construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of relatively heavy longitudinal edge bars of Z-shaped cross-sectional form; an end bar extending between and connected to said Z-b-ar's at each end of the panel; a front wall and a rear wall composed of relatively light gage metal connected to said Z-bars and said end bars; an inturne'd flange on each end bar extending toward the center of the panel from the front wall thereof; an inti'i'rned flange on each Z-bar extendin toward the center of the panel from the rear wall of the panel; said flanges forming channels at the resp'eetiveedg'es of the panel; sealing strips located in said channels; a sill beam secured to the bottoms of said stationary anels; a ca jbeain seemed to the tops" of said stationary panels; sealing bars connected to said capand sill beains respectively and engaging the sealing strips in the respective ends of said stationary panels; said removable panels having a channel extending completely around the panel and a sealing" strip in said channel extending toward the center thereof from one face of the panel, said sealing strip at the sides of said removable panel being on the sides of said stationary panels, and the sealing strip at the top and bottom of said removable panel being adapted to engage the cap and sill sealing bars respectively, intermediate the stationary panels;'and means carried by the said Z-bars for securing theremo'vable panels in place.

15. A casing construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of relatively heavy longitudinal edge bars of Z- shaped cross-sectional form; an end barv eX- tending between and connected to said, Z-bars at each end of thepanel; a front and a rear wall composed of relativel'y light gage metal connected to said Z-bars and said end bars; an intu'rned flange on each end bar extending toward the center of the panel from the front wall thereof; an inturned flange on each Z-bar extending toward the center of the panel from the rear wall of the panel; said flanges forming channels at the respective edges of the panel; sealing strips' located; in

adapted to engage th'esealing strips Cal said channels; a sill beam secured to the bottoms of said stationary panels; a cap beam secured to the tops of said stationary panels; sealing bars connected to said cap and sill beams respectively and engaging the sealing strips in the respective ends of said stationary panels; said removable panels having a channel extending completely around the panel and a sealing strip in said channel extending toward the center thereof from one face of the panel, said sealing strip at the sides of said removable panel being adapted to engage the sealing strips on the sides of said stationary panels, and the sealing strip at the top and bottom of said removable panel being adapted to engage the cap and sill sealing bars respectively, intermediate the stationary panels; and means secured to said Z- bars for supporting the machinery of the drier.

16. A casing construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of relatively heavy longitudinal edge bars of Z- shaped cross-sectional form; an end bar extending between and connected to said Z-bars at each end of the panel; a front wall and a rear wall composed of relatively light gage metal connected to said Z-bars and said end bars; an inturned flange on each end bar extending toward the center of the panel from the front wall thereof; an inturned flange on each Z-bar extending toward the center of the panel from the rear wall of the panel; said flanges forming channels at the respective edges of the panel; sealing strips located in said channels; a sill beam secured to the bottoms of said stationary panels; a cap beam secured to the tops of said stationary panels; sealing bars connected to said cap and sill beams respectively and engaging the sealing strips in the respective ends of said stationary panels; said removable panels having a channel extending completely around the panel and a sealing strip in said channel ex tending toward the center thereof from one face of the panel, said sealing strip at the sides of said removable panel being adapted to engage the sealing strips on the sides of said stationary panels, and the sealing strip at the top and bottom of said removable panel being adapted to engage the cap and sill sealing bars respectively, intermediate the stationary panels; and roofpanels secured to said cap beam.

17. A casing construction for driers and like apparatus, comprising a plurality of stationary panels and removable panels; each stationary panel comprising a pair of relatively heavy longitudinal edge bars of Z- shaped cross-sectional form; an end bar extending between and connected to said Z-bars at each end of the panel; a front wall and a rear wall composed of relatively light gage metal connected to said Z-bars and said end bars; an inturned flange on each end bar extending toward the center of the panel from the front wall thereof; an inturned flange on each Z-bar extending toward the center of the panel from the rear wall of the panel; said flanges forming channels at the respective edges of the panel; sealing strips located in sa1d channels; a sill beam secured to the bottoms of said stationary panels; a cap beam secured to the tops of said stationary panels; sealing bars connected to said cap and sill eams respectively and engaging the sealing strips in the respective ends of said stationary panels; said removable panels having a channel extending completely around the panel and a sealing strip in said channel extending toward the center thereof from one face of the panel, said sealing strip at the sides of said removable panel being adapted to engage the sealing strips on the sides of said stationary panels, and the sealing strip at the top and bottom of said removable panel being adapted to engage the cap and sill sealing bars respectively, intermediate the stationary panels; and roof panels securedto said cap beam and having sealing strips engaging said cap sealing bar.

18. The combination of two panels arranged side by side, each panel comprising walls composed of relatively thin sheet metal with non-conducting material between the walls; Z-shaped edge members on the adjacent edge of said panels, secured to the said walls of the respective panels, each Z-shaped edge member having a channel formed therein; a sealing strip located in each panel; a joint plate overlapping the adjacent edges of the panels and having a channel; a sealing strip in the joint plate channel engaging the sealing strips in the channels of said panels; and means secured to the Z-bars of the panels for clamping the joint plate in sealing engagement with the panels.

l/VALTER M. SCHWARTZ. 

